In May, we celebrate the vital contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Explore this collection to find texts related to AAPI history and culture, including works by Ted Chiang, C Pam Zhang, and Ha Jin, among others.
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Spy / Espionage
Publication year 2008
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fame
Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Sports, Contemporary Literature
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Society: Class
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Spy / Espionage
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Asian Literature
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, Politics / Government
The Sympathizer is an historical spy novel told in the first-person by an unnamed half-French, half-Vietnamese narrator. The story unfolds as the narrator’s confession to a man referred to as the Commandant. The narrator begins his story with the fall of Saigon, where he is the aide-de-camp to a high-ranking General in the Special Branch, the central intelligence organization of the anti-Communist South Vietnamese Army. Quickly, we learn that the narrator is not all he appears... Read The Sympathizer Summary
Publication year 1998
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness
Tags Health / Medicine, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Sports, Mental Illness, Biography
The Tennis Partner: A Story of Friendship and Loss (1998) is a memoir by physician Abraham Verghese. It follows his friendship with David Smith, a medical student recovering from drug addiction, and the regular games of tennis that lie at the heart of their relationship. The book explores the themes The Disease of Addiction, The Power of Ritual, and Navigating Loneliness and Conflict in Relationships.Verghese is a physician, professor, and best-selling author. His first book... Read The Tennis Partner Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Sports, Race / Racism, Bullying, Realistic Fiction, Biography
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: World, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Indian Literature
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race
Tags History: U.S., Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Social Justice, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Biography
They Called Us Enemy is a 2019 graphic memoir written by author, actor, and activist George Takei and illustrated by Harmony Becker. The story chronicles Takei’s childhood experience in the Japanese concentration camps created by the United States during World War II. Takei frames the narrative with a modern-day talk delivered at the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who presided over the country during the war and issued Executive Order 9066, which empowered the US... Read They Called Us Enemy Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
The Young Elites (2014) by Marie Lu is a young adult fantasy novel with thriller and romance elements. Protagonist Adelina Amouteru faces a dismal future as a malfetto—a person marked by the blood fever epidemic that occurred when she was a child. Discovering that she has the supernatural capabilities of a Young Elite, a quality marking only a few malfettos, positions her on a path of deadly conflict and desire. Highlighting themes of The Concept... Read The Young Elites Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Community, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Immigration / Refugee, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying, Love / Sexuality, Grief / Death, History: Asian, Natural Disaster, Parenting, Military / War, Race / Racism, Religion / Spirituality, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 1991
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Business / Economics, Self Help, Science / Nature, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Psychology, Politics / Government
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Military / War, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, History: World
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mythology
Publication year 1981
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Asian Literature, Chinese Literature, Education, Education, Asian Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Thousand Pieces of Gold is a biographical novel written by Ruthanne Lum McCunn. McCunn is known for writing about the lives of often-forgotten Chinese Americans, and Thousand Pieces of Gold follows the life of Polly Bemis, a Chinese American woman considered to be one of the most important female pioneers in Idaho in the 19th century. The novel explores themes such as The Burden and Pain of Family Betrayal, Gender Expectations and the Quest for... Read Thousand Pieces of Gold Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Fantasy, Romance
Three Dark Crowns (2016) by Kendare Blake is the first novel in the five-part fantasy series by the same name. The novel follows 16-year-old royal triplet sisters from the island of Fennbirn—Arsinoe, who can control animals and plants; Katharine, who is immune to deadly poisons; and Mirabella, who can control the elements, like earth, fire, and water—as they compete against one another for the throne. As they come of age, they prepare to battle each... Read Three Dark Crowns Summary